Medicaid Unwinding in Mississippi: What You Need to Know If You Lose Coverage
Key takeaways:
Medicaid renewals in Mississippi are changing because of the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) on May 11, 2023. This is being called the unwinding of Medicaid, and some people will lose coverage during this process.
During the PHE, Medicaid renewals were automatic and enrollees had continuous coverage. But, as part of the unwinding process, automatic renewals for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) stopped nationwide on March 31, 2023.
The Mississippi Division of Medicaid (DOM) has started reviewing who is currently eligible to receive coverage. If you’re enrolled in Medicaid in the state, make sure the DOM has your current contact information. If the agency can’t reach you or you’re no longer eligible for Medicaid, you could lose coverage as early as June 30, 2023.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declared a public health emergency (PHE) for COVID-19 in January 2020. The PHE was renewed a dozen times between January 2020 and February 2023.
People who were eligible for Medicaid at the start of the COVID PHE were able to keep their coverage during the pandemic without having their eligibility reviewed. This is because all states — including Mississippi — and territories were mandated to provide continuous coverage during this period.
But the PHE expires on May 11, 2023, and this marks the end of most COVID provisions — like automatic Medicaid renewals, which stopped nationwide in March. These changes could cause 5 million to 14 million Medicaid enrollees nationwide to lose coverage.
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The Mississippi Division of Medicaid (DOM) has resumed eligibility reviews for Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) enrollees through a process called redetermination. Bob Anderson, the executive director of the Mississippi Department of Human Services, estimates that 100,000 to 150,000 people in the state could lose Medicaid or CHIP coverage during this process. For some, this loss of coverage could happen as early as June 30, 2023.
Here’s what you need to know about Medicaid changes in Mississippi and what to do if you lose your insurance coverage.
Why is Medicaid changing nationwide?
After the PHE ends, COVID will remain a public health priority — just not an emergency. As part of this process, Medicaid renewals will no longer be automatic. This is being referred to as the unwinding of Medicaid.
The unwinding process will affect Medicaid in every state, Washington, D.C., and five U.S. territories.
What’s happening with Medicaid renewal in Mississippi?
The Mississippi DOM is responsible for overseeing the state’s Medicaid program. The DOM’s unwinding plan outlines how the state intends to conduct household eligibility reviews for current enrollees over the next year. As of February 2023, there were more than 890,000 people in Mississippi receiving Medicaid and CHIP coverage.
In January 2023, the DOM launched a “Stay Covered” outreach campaign in English and Spanish to encourage Medicaid enrollees to update their contact information.
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If you’re enrolled in Medicaid in the state, it’s important for you to confirm or update your household’s contact information with the DOM by:
Filling out this digital form
Calling the DOM at 1-800-421-2408 or 601-359-6050
If the DOM has your phone number or email address on file, you may receive texts or emails encouraging you to update your contact information.
What to expect during the renewal process
When it’s your turn to renew, the DOM will first try using electronic verification to confirm your eligibility. If your household’s eligibility cannot be automatically confirmed, you will be sent a renewal packet. You will have 30 days to return your completed renewal packet. And you may receive reminders from the DOM about the renewal deadline via phone, text, or email.
Completed renewal packets and documentation can be submitted to the DOM by:
Phone
Email
Fax
In-person submission at a regional office
The first round of renewal packets were sent out in April 2023. People who received these packets and who are deemed ineligible or do not return the packets by the deadline risk losing coverage as early as June 30, 2023.
If you need to reach a representative for Mississippi Medicaid by phone, call the DOM at 1-800-421-2408 or 601-359-6050.
Tribal health and Medicaid unwinding
The National Indian Health Board estimates that as many as 236,000 American Indians and Alaska Natives could lose coverage during the unwinding process.
In response, Mississippi state liaisons are reaching out to people who are enrolled in Medicaid and who are also members of or affiliated with Native American tribes. And the DOM is consulting regularly with designees of the state’s only federally recognized tribe — the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians — about Medicaid and CHIP.
What should I do if I lose my Medicaid coverage in Mississippi?
In order to receive Medicaid in Mississippi, you must meet all of the following criteria:
You must be a Mississippi resident.
You must be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or legal resident.
You must need assistance with access to healthcare or insurance coverage.
Your annual household income before taxes are withheld must be below the limit for your household size.
In Mississippi, you may also qualify for a reason other than income, including if you are:
Pregnant
A child or teenager
Responsible for the care of a child who is 18 years old or younger
Age 65 or older (and meet certain criteria)
A person who is 13 to 44 and has family planning needs
A person with a disability (including, in some cases, if you are working)
In need of nursing home care
If you no longer qualify for Medicaid or the DOM can’t reach you, you will no longer be able to use your benefits. If you lose your coverage but believe you still qualify, you can reapply for Medicaid. But you may be uninsured for a while while you’re waiting to be reapproved.
If you choose not to reapply for Medicaid coverage, you may be able to take advantage of low-cost or free healthcare options. You can also use GoodRx coupons to save on your prescription medications. In addition, you may be able to enroll in an alternative health insurance plan, such as:
Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace: You may be able to find an ACA health plan for $10 or less per month if you qualify for a premium subsidy. If you lose Medicaid during the unwinding process, you can purchase a plan through the ACA marketplace during a special enrollment period from March 31, 2023 to July 31, 2024.
Employer plan: If you have a job, you may be able to get employer-sponsored health insurance.
Medicare: If you have a qualifying disability or condition — such as end-stage renal disease or ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease — you can enroll in Medicare at any age.
Partner’s plan: If you have a spouse or domestic partner who has insurance, you may be able to join their plan during an open enrollment or special enrollment period.
Special plans: Short-term insurance can be a great choice if you anticipate a better option, like job-based health insurance, to be available soon. You may also consider alternative and limited-benefit plans, such as fixed indemnity, accident, cost-sharing, and catastrophic insurance plans.
Student health plan: If you’re enrolled in a college or university, you may be eligible for a campus health plan.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA): If you are an active-duty service member or a veteran, you may qualify for TRICARE coverage or VA benefits and services.
Mississippi Medicaid resources
Here are some resources where you can learn more about Medicaid in Mississippi and upcoming changes related to the end of the PHE:
Mississippi Medicaid office: The Mississippi DOM oversees and administers the state’s Medicaid program.
Mississippi Medicaid redetermination: Read more about Mississippi’s Medicaid unwinding plan.
Mississippi Medicaid unwinding FAQs: Find the answers to frequently asked questions about the unwinding process and Medicaid renewals in the state.
Mississippi Medicaid office phone assistance: You can call the DOM at 1-800-421-2408 or 601-359-6050.
The bottom line
Automatic Medicaid renewals stopped nationwide on March 31, 2023, in advance of the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) ending on May 11, 2023. This is called the unwinding of Medicaid.
As a part of this process, the Mississippi Division of Medicaid (DOM) will spend a year reviewing Medicaid enrollees’ eligibility. So it’s important that the agency has your current contact information if anyone in your household is enrolled in Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
Households whose eligibility can’t be confirmed through electronic sources will receive renewal packets. If you receive one of these packets, be sure to complete it and return it by the deadline.
If you lose Medicaid coverage, you still may be able to obtain health insurance through other sources. You may be eligible for an Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace plan, an employer-sponsored plan, or Medicare, among other options.
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References
Administration for Strategic Preparedness & Response. (2020). Determination that a public health emergency exists.
Administration for Strategic Preparedness & Response. (2023). Renewal of determination that a public health emergency exists.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2023). Temporary special enrollment period (SEP) for consumers losing Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage due to unwinding of the Medicaid continuous enrollment condition – Frequently asked questions (FAQ).
Medicaid.gov. (n.d.). Renew your Medicaid or CHIP coverage.
Medicaid.gov. (n.d.). Unwinding and returning to regular operations after COVID-19.
Mississippi Division of Medicaid. (n.d.). Office locations.
Mississippi Division of Medicaid. (n.d.). Stay Covered.
Mississippi Division of Medicaid. (n.d.). Stay Covered toolkit.
Mississippi Division of Medicaid. (n.d.). Stay Covered! FAQs
